Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 7 - Mass Casualty Incidents

In this episode, the team takes a deep dive into Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs) — one of the most complex and confronting scenarios in pre-hospital care.

They explore what truly defines an MCI, why early recognition and declaration using tools like METHANE is critical, and how structured command and communication can bring order to chaotic scenes.

The team also breaks down modern triage approaches, including 10-Second Triage, and discuss how prioritising rapid decision-making and simple algorithms can save lives when resources are overwhelmed.

Whether you’re new to practice or an experienced clinician, this episode offers clear, practical insights to help you navigate MCIs with confidence and purpose.

References:

• Vassallo, J., Cowburn, P., Park, C., Bull, D., Harris, S., Moran, C. G., & Smith, J. E. (2024). Ten second triage: A novel and pragmatic approach to major incident triage. Trauma, 26(1), 3-6.
• Davidson, L., Vassallo, J., Cowburn, P., Bull, D., Moran, C., & Carter, H. (2025). Evaluating Ten Second Triage: A Novel Multi‐Agency Prehospital Triage Tool for Major Incidents. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 33(1), e70025.
• Gebhart, M. E., & Pence, R. (2007). START triage: does it work?. Disaster Management & Response, 5(3), 68-73.
• Kuriyama, A., Urushidani, S., & Nakayama, T. (2017). Five-level emergency triage systems: variation in assessment of validity. Emergency Medicine Journal, 34(11), 703-710.